Guess what—you’re only 77 hours of prelicensing coursework away from drumming up business in one of the hottest real estate markets in the country. In no time at all, you could be helping clients buy a cozy upstate home, a summer getaway in the Hamptons, or a chic Manhattan apartment. But first, my team and I spent hundreds of hours evaluating real estate schools in NY to help you find the best education provider that fits your budget and learning style. Read through to see which ones made our list.
My Top Picks for Best Online Real Estate Schools in NY
| Our Top Picks | Starting Price | Promo Code | Read More Below |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York Real Estate Institute (NYREI): Best for job placement | $495 | No promo code | New York Real Estate Institute ↓ |
| The CE Shop: Best for continuing education | $315 | TheClose35 - Save 35% | The CE Shop ↓ |
| Colibri Real Estate: Best for exam prep | $355 | TheClose30 - Save 30% | Colibri Real Estate ↓ |
| Kaplan: Best for career resources | $379 | KAPRE5 - Save 5% | Kaplan ↓ |
| Aceable Agent: Best for mobile | $239 | Click our Aceable Agent link - Save 25% | Aceable Agent ↓ |
| RealEstateU: Best on a budget | $149 | TheClose10 - Save $10 | RealEstateU ↓ |
Need to learn more about NY education requirements before choosing a school? Check our guide on How to Become a Real Estate Agent in NY in 5 Easy Steps or jump to our Helpful New York Licensing Info section.
Best for Job Placement: New York Real Estate Institute
Education Available
- Prelicensing
- Exam prep
- Continuing education
- Broker prelicensing
My Expert Opinion on New York Real Estate Institute
I consider New York Real Estate Institute (NYREI) the best real estate school in NY because of its lifetime job placement assistance. No other school on our list has that feature. Regardless of your niche, NYREI has relationships with some of the top real estate brokerages in New York to help you get started with your career.
💡Room for improvement: While NYREI has almost all the extra features you’ll want from a prelicensing package, I wish the school would extend its course access. Currently, students are only given four months to complete their courses, which isn’t reasonable with its hefty price tag. Extending the course access to at least a year would give students ample time to finish their courses without paying extra.
New York Real Estate Institute Cost
Students may choose between online self-paced, livestream via Zoom, and in-person class formats.
| Type of Education | Features | |
|---|---|---|
| Prelicensing |
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| Exam Prep |
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| Broker Prelicensing |
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| Continuing Education |
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Visit New York Real Estate Institute
Best New York Real Estate School for Exam Prep: The CE Shop
Education Available
- Prelicensing
- Exam prep
- Continuing education
- Broker prelicensing
My Expert Opinion on The CE Shop
As an aspiring agent, you’ll want to find a school that can provide all the types of classes you’ll need throughout your real estate career—which is why I recommend The CE Shop. It has the most interesting real estate CE course selection in New York that you can find online. From fair housing to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) code of ethics course, The CE Shop offers all the required hours for your first and subsequent license renewals.
💡Room for improvement: The CE Shop is the best real estate course in New York online for continuing education. However, I think the only thing missing from The CE Shop’s offerings are interactive features such as live webinars and Q&A sessions. It would be the perfect addition to its prelicensing courses.
The CE Shop Cost
All courses may be taken at your own pace. Whichever package you choose from The CE Shop’s offerings, expect lots of bonus resources–even from their most basic ones.
| Type of Education | Features | |
|---|---|---|
| Prelicensing |
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| Exam Prep |
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| Continuing Education |
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| Broker Prelicensing |
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Save 35% at The CE Shop when you use our code “TheClose35”
Need to see more before making a decision? Check out our in-depth review and walk-through video for The CE Shop:
Best for Exam Prep: Colibri Real Estate
Education Available
- Prelicensing
- Exam prep
- Continuing education
- Broker prelicensing
My Expert Opinion on Colibri Real Estate
With all the noteworthy features you’ll get from the Exam Prep Live package, it’s no wonder Colibri made it to my best real estate schools in NY list. Colibri offers everything you’ll need to feel confident for the real estate exam: Q&A sessions with expert instructors, audio course summaries you can listen to anytime, and a series of one-hour webinars. If these won’t give you the right amount of confidence, Colibri’s Pass or Don’t Pay guarantee will. Read our Colibri Real Estate review for more info.
💡Room for improvement: I thought it would be best if Colibri Real Estate added weekend schedules for its livestream classes for the benefit of those who work on weekdays.
Colibri Real Estate Cost
Almost all of Colibri Real Estate’s packages come with a Pass or Don’t Pay guarantee. This benefit means you may be eligible for a full refund if you don’t pass the real estate exam on your first try.
| Type of Education | Features | |
|---|---|---|
| Prelicensing |
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| Exam Prep |
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| Continuing Education |
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| Broker Prelicensing |
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Use our code “TheClose30” and get 30% off at Colibri Real Estate!
Need to see more before making a decision? Check out our walk-through video for Colibri Real Estate:
Best for Career Resources: Kaplan
Education Available
- Prelicensing courses
- Exam prep
- Continuing education
My Expert Opinion on Kaplan
While most schools only focus on materials needed to pass the real estate exam, Kaplan stresses the importance of learning real-world skills and income-generating projects as an agent. The Real Estate Accelerator program and Career Mentor Connect are why I chose Kaplan as one of the best real estate schools in NY. Check out our comprehensive Kaplan review for more information.
💡Room for improvement: Kaplan has the second-most expensive basic prelicensing course on this list, so it would make a lot more sense for Kaplan to start adding a pass guarantee in all their packages.
Kaplan Cost
In New York, Kaplan only offers self-paced courses. All packages include weekly live mentorship sessions online and access to an interactive study group. The more expensive options offer extras such as printed textbooks and live online coaching.
| Type of Education | Features | |
|---|---|---|
| Prelicensing |
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| Exam Prep |
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| Continuing Education |
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Use our code “KAPRE5” and get 5% off
Best for Mobile: Aceable Agent
Education Available
- Prelicensing
- Exam prep
- Continuing education courses via Kaplan
My Expert Opinion on Aceable Agent
After all the hours I spent evaluating the best real estate schools in NY, I am most impressed with Aceable Agent’s interface. It’s the only school on my list with a mobile app, so this provider is perfect for people on the go. Aceable Agent’s student dashboard is also easy to navigate, with audio guides, on-demand videos, practice quizzes, and highlights of the most important parts of every lesson. Read our Aceable Agent review for more information.
💡Room for improvement: It would be great if Aceable Agent could expand its services in more states and offer standalone test prep packages.
Aceable Agent Cost
All of Aceable Agent’s prelicensing course packages include a pass guarantee and loads of practice questions that will help you ace the real estate exam.
| Type of Education | Features | |
|---|---|---|
| Prelicensing |
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| Continuing Education |
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Visit Aceable Agent and get 25% off
Best for Students on a Budget: RealEstateU
Education Available
- Prelicensing
- Exam prep
- Continuing education
My Expert Opinion on RealEstateU
Even if it’s the cheapest real estate school in NY on our list, RealEstateU doesn’t skimp on key features. RealEstateU’s courses are easy-to-digest audio lectures over slides, with practice quizzes at the end of each chapter. If you’re the type of independent student who can easily focus on a task on your own, RealEstateU is the best choice.
💡Room for improvement: RealEstateU only has self-paced courses, so students cannot interact with their instructors and peers. That said, I wish RealEstateU would include live Q&A sessions in their course packages so students can ask questions in real time.
RealEstateU Cost
In New York, RealEstateU offers straightforward, simple, and affordable course packages for licensed and aspiring agents.
| Type of Education | Features | |
|---|---|---|
| Prelicensing |
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| Exam Prep |
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| Continuing Education |
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How We Selected the Best Online Real Estate Schools in New York
In terms of our methodology at The Close, our team of licensed real estate professionals, writers, and editors created a weighted rubric that involves evaluating each school. Our experts have done hours of research to analyze dozens of real estate schools to determine the best for our readers. The features we explored are essential for students to become successful agents and brokers in the real estate industry.
Our detailed criteria included:
- Course Features 25%
- This comprises items that assist agents and brokers in completing their education, like pass and refund guarantees, career and instructor support, coaching, training, interactive study groups, and course extensions.
- Value 20%
- Pricing and availability of coursework is an important factor to assess. This accounts for real estate school offerings in prelicensing, post-licensing, continuing education, broker prelicensing, and exam prep.
- Learning Format and Accessibility 20%
- Real estate professionals must consider the best format for their learning, which includes self-paced, on-demand video, livestream, and in-person classes. Also, accessibility via multiple devices, like computers, tablets, and mobile devices, determines the convenience for users.
- Expert Score 15%
- The Close closely reviews each course for standout features, details, ease of use, and the value for money spent from a real estate expert’s perspective.
- Help and Support 10%
- If students need additional support, knowing the customer service options through phone, email, live chat, and ticket system is necessary.
- Reputation 10%
- This examines the reputation of each real estate school through the lens of current and past students, reviewing the customer reviews and popularity of each provider.
Helpful New York Licensing Info
New York Real Estate Governing Body:
New York State Board of Real Estate
Prelicensing Requirements:
77 hours
Post-licensing Requirements:
None
Continuing Education Requirements:
22.5 hours every 2 years
- Prelicensing: How to Become a Real Estate Agent in NY
- Exam prep: How to Study for the Real Estate Exam: Tips & Strategies and Free Real Estate Practice Exam + 7 Hacks to Help You Ace It
- Upgrading your license: How to Become a Real Estate Broker in New York
FAQs
How long does it take to become a real estate agent in New York?
Becoming a real estate agent in NY takes about three months, but you can decrease that time dramatically if you’re dedicated. New York Real Estate Institute says you can get through their prelicensing courses within days, and other real estate schools on this list allow you to work at your speed.
How much does it cost to get a real estate license in NY?
On average, getting your real estate license in New York costs about $400 to $600. Some costs are fixed, such as the license application and exam registration fees. The cost of your prelicensing course and test prep materials will vary depending on your chosen school. For more information, read our guide on how to become a real estate agent in NY.
Is the New York real estate exam difficult?
The New York real estate exam can be challenging, but passing isn’t impossible. If you want to be more confident come exam day, equip yourself with exam prep materials from any NY real estate schools I’ve listed above.
How many Realtors are there in New York?
According to the National Association of Realtors, there are 61,799 Realtors in New York. This number shows a 0.01% increase from the previous month and a 2.35% decrease from last year. New York has the fourth-highest number of Realtors in the country, behind Florida, California, and Texas.
How much do real estate agents make in New York?
It all depends on the number of deals and the commission splits, but according to The Close’s salary information database, an average real estate agent in New York makes $99,324 per year.
What’s the average home price in New York?
According to Zillow, home values in New York are up 4.1% over the past year, reaching $451,434. The average for New York City is much higher, at $734,336.
Bringing It All Together
I hope my list of the best real estate schools in NY has helped you decide where to enroll. At The Close, we’re committed to giving you the best insights and options for your real estate needs. Still have questions? Leave us a comment below!
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